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7c Read B Read the first paragraph again and the

A

Look at the title of the
article. What do you think
it is about? Listen, read and question below (not the answers a, b, c).
Why did Mrs Wye organise a
check your answers. decluttering weekend?
The b. She wanted to start a blog about
a. She was fed up with having a messy
house.
Going from too
Going from too
much to just enough:
much to just enough:
minimalism.
Minimalist
c. She wanted to show other people
how to do it.
Now choose an answer (a, b or c)
and answer these questions:
Family • Are the exact same words used in the
• Which part in paragraph 1 justifies
your answer? Underline it.
answer you chose and in the text?
© MM Publications
• Why are the other two options wrong?

Stay-at-home mum and blogger of The Minimalist Family, Nina Wye, was shocked
Sta
-
y
-home mum and blogger of
at
e, w
as shock
e, w
e, w
as shock
ed
ed
as shock
ed
y
, Nina W
amily
The Minimalist F
, Nina W
y
y
, Nina W
when she irst realised how untidy her house was and how much junk there was in
when she irst realised how untidy her house was and how much junk there was in
it. Without wasting any more time, she organised a decluttering weekend for the
it. Without wasting any more time, she organised a decluttering weekend for the
whole family. That was four years ago. Since then, her blog has helped other families
whole family. That was four years ago. Since then, her blog has helped other families
ind ways to reduce the amount of stu they have, and ind happiness in living more
ind ways to reduce the amount of stu
they have, and ind happiness in living more

simply and with less. ‘Getting started is the easy part,’ Nina says. ‘After that, you need
simply and with less. ‘Getting started is the easy part,’ Nina says. ‘After that, you need
to avoid buying things you want but don’t need.’
During that weekend, Nina, her husband Marty and their three kids gathered two
During that weekend, Nina, her husband Marty and their three kids gathered two

tu
arloads of s
carloads of stu they didn’t use, want, or even know they had. They donated
c carloads of stu they didn’t use, want, or even know they had. They donated they didn’t use, want, or even know they had. They donated
to charity what they could and recycled the rest. Marty
to charity what they could and recycled the rest. Marty
says that he enjoyed getting rid of so many things with
says that he enjoyed getting rid of so many things with
the help of the kids, but when they came home, the
the help of the kids, but when they came home, the
house didn’t look much di erent. ‘That’s when I
house didn’t look much di erent. ‘That’s when I
realised that we still had work to do. It would be
realised that we still had work to do. It would be
tough, but it had to be done.’
Today each member of the Wye family owns
Today each member of the Wye family owns
about 100 items, including their clothes, books
about 100 items, including their clothes, books
and toys. Pretty impressive, especially since
and toys. Pretty impressive, especially since
recent studies have shown that 10-year-olds in
recent studies have shown that 10-year-olds in
England have around 238 toys — and usually
England have around 238 toys — and usually
line 21 end up playing with only twelve of them. After . After
the Wyes got rid of two-thirds of their things, the
the Wyes got rid of two-thirds of their things, the
children seemed relaxed and enjoyed playing
children seemed relaxed and enjoyed playing
more. ‘We were afraid they would miss their
more. ‘We were afraid they would miss their
toys, but I think all the choices they had just
toys, but I think all the choices they had just
made them ight more,’ Nina says.
Instead of buying their children presents
they’d soon get tired of, Marty and Nina
now choose to spend their money on
experiences. They take the kids horse riding, go
experiences. They take the kids horse riding, go
to amusement parks, or even travel — things
to amusement parks, or even travel — things
that they couldn’t a ord to do before. How are
that they couldn’t a ord to do before. How are

they able to do that now? Well, after years of
minimalist living, the Wyes have managed
to save more money. ‘We realised how much
money and, most importantly, how much time
money and, most importantly, how much time
we used to spend on shopping for things we
didn’t even need,’ says Nina.
‘That has been the biggest gift for our family,’
Nina adds. ‘We spend a lot less time cleaning our
Nina adds. ‘We spend a lot less time cleaning our
home, deciding what to wear, or looking for things
home, deciding what to wear, or looking for things
, so we have a lot more time for doing
in piles of stu , so we have a lot more time for doing
in piles of stu

and for each other. I’m so glad we
the things we love — and for each other. I’m so glad we
changed our lifestyle!’
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